Folding drawbar for harrows



y 1952 A. L. ROGERS FOLDING DRAWBAR FOR HARROWS 2 SI-lEETS-SHEET 1 5 R E 0000 0 OOOOOOO o co 0 o o o 000 00 c 000 00 0 0 Q L r o o o 0 000000 0 M H A o o 0000 e000 0 one oaooo Y B .Q\ & COD 0 COO Q0 lrwlmm mm a mmf l F LQM T. UN ,q \u NW NR m 0 mm NR air 0 mm R 8 wk NV Qv NV Vm v0 NW V mm mm mm QM VV 3. an QQ &. AW 9 M y 1952 A. L. ROGERS 2,597,533

FOLDING DRAWBAR FOR HARROWS BY MqS Patented May 20, 1952 3 Claims.

This invention. relates generally to agricultural implements, and more particularly to a folding drawbar for barrows, the drawbar having ground-contacting wheels and means for connection with a drawbar of a tractoror the like;

A primary object of this invention is to provide a drawbar which is adapted to be expandible. to a width allowing a large number of harrowsections to, be secured thereto, while being contractible to a narrow width so that the device may be. conveniently transported along roadways and through gateways.

Another object of this invention is to provide meansinawheel-supported drawbar for securing harrow sections in inoperative. position thereon, as when it is-v desired to transport the drawbar along with these sections from field to field.

Still another object of this invention is to providea. drawbar having a central-wheeled frame,- andl. frame. wings, mounted thereon for pivotal movement in two directions,.this construction allowing the drawbar to be-used todrag-either a large. number or a relatively smaller number of sections, as well as providing advantages noted hereinbefore.

And a last object to be-specifically mentioned isto provide a folding drawbar which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to. manufacture, whichv is exceedingly simple, convenient and safe to-use, and whichwill be generally efiicient and durable in service.

Withthese objects definitely'in view, together with. other objects which are inherent in the structure of this invention and which. will .become apparent asthis description proceeds, this invention resides in certain novel, construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which? Figure 1 is a topplan view-of this .foldingdrawbar, with a plurality of" harrow sections operatively applied thereon, the drawbar being in fully expanded and operative position, and the figure including a fragmentary part of a tractor drawbar, to indicate a manner of usingthis invention and to amplify the disclosure thereof;

Figure 2 is a rear elevationalview of the structure illustrated in Figure l, with the harrow sections removed, one of the frame wings being shown in a second position in dash line;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of this invention, showing the frame wings folded onto the central frame 'portion;

Figure 4- is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, vertical sectional in character, and taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail therefrom,

view with transverse vertical sectionalin chfiraos ter, taken on: the'line- 55 in Figure-2.

Similar similar elements or portions throughout the spee fication and throughout the several views .ofthe; drawings,

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the environment wherewith this invention is-adaptedto be used'includes a tractor drawbar l0, or some other analogous means for propelling the drawbar described herein, and a plurality of harrow sections, generally indicated by the numeral 12 and ordinarily comprising a framework l4, a plurality of spikes or teeth l6, and hook members l8, all of conventional design.

This invention includes a central frame, indicated by the numeral 20, and comprised of horizontally disposed members 22 anda23', con;- nected in triangular'form by fishplatesil l, 2 6:and it, together witha; complement ofinecessarybolts 3t, orth elike; The-,fishplatefl is, aperturedat 32 for.- connection, as: by means-of aking bolt; with the. drawbar I0 of-the:tractor.

A plurality of upright members. extend from the horizontal frame member: 23' to whichthey are; integrally secured, upwardly to a: beam: 36 which is also disposed horizontally, preferably immediately above the horizontal frame member 23.- A plurality of braces 38 and 40 maybe added to thisframe to strengthen the same. A pair. of

these braces, illustratedat 42 are worthy of'a special note since these braces are secured between web portions t4 on the horizontal frame members 22 andlugs 46 secured to the horizontal frame member 23 and an adjacent upright34, as by welding at 48, these-braces 42' carrying adjustable bearings for the axle 50, all as best illuse trated in Figure 4. It will be noted thatthe adjustable bearing comprises an inverted U-shaped bracket 52, a bearing seat 54 vertically slidably mounted within each of these brackets 52, and an adjustment screw 56 threadedly associated with the top portion of the brackets 52, so that the seat 54 may be raised or lowered with reference to the brace 42, thus allowing the raising and lowering of the complete drawbar device.

Another pair of fishplates 58 are rigidly secured to the ends of the beam 36 and frame wings; generally indicated by the numeral 60, are pivotally secured on the fishplates '26, 28 and the upper fishplates 5.8, by means of vertical axis bolts ,62 inserted through. the said fishplates and through, tubular upright members 64, each tubular up.- right 64 has a looped strap member 66 adjacent the upper end thereof and extending outwardly and. the. substantially. triangular frame wings havethe upright member 6.8 thereof inserted through this looped strap 66', while the lower ends of these upright members 68 are pivoted to collars 10 carried by the lower characters of. reference designate ends of the tubular members 64. The upper ends of the members 68 may be further adjustably secured to the upper ends of the members 64 by cable means I2 and bolts 14 having eyes terminally secured to the cable means. Each frame wing includes a horizontal member 16 and an arcuate member I8 terminally secured together, as by welding, in generally triangular form.

Since the axle 50 is carried on a pair of ground contacting wheels 80, it follows that the central frame 20 and the frame wings 60 may be supported a short distance above the ground, and the horizontal frame member 23, as well as the horizontal frame members 16 of the frame wings, are provided with eye bolts 82 carrying links 84, so that the hook members I8 of the harrow sections [2 may be removably secured to the said horizontal frame members. When so secured the harrow sections will be in operative positions, as indicated in Figure 1.

The beam 36 is provided with a plurality of hooks 86 extending rearwardly therefrom, and a plurality of uprights 88, each terminating in a hook 90, are secured to the horizontal members 16 of the frame wings. It will therefor be clear that the harrow sections [2 may be removed from or pivoted upwardly on their connection with the horizontal sections 23 and I6 and suspended on the hooks 86 and 90, when it is desired to transport this implement from field to field.

The folding feature of this device is inherently described in the foregoing description, and it should be noted that the central frame carries a cross member 92, preferably welded to the brace 40 and the horizontal frame members 22,

and this cross member extends beyond the sides of the horizontal frame members 22 for connection to flexible cables or chains 94 which connect the ends of the cross member to intermediate portions of the horizontal members 16 in each frame wing. It will be clear that the chains or cables 94 limit the rearward pivotal movement of the frame wings, so that the horizontal members 23 and 16 will be substantially colinear when the implement is in operation. The forward end of each of the cables or chains 94 is formed with an eye 96 to receive a headed bolt 98, whereby the chain is secured to the cross member 92, and whereby the frame wings are also retained in folded position, the enlarged head on the bolt 98 serving as a stop or abutment for the forward end of the horizontal frame member 16 when the frame wings are folded in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, and taken in connection with the above recitation of the objects sought to be achieved by this invention. It is clear that all the objects sought to be achieved by this invention are amply obtained. An advantage which will now be more clear resides in the feature including means whereby the harrow sections may be simply tipped upwardly and fastened on the hooks 86 and 90, without disconnecting the same from the horizontal frame sections, and it will be also noted that the frame wings may be folded either before or after the harrow sections are thus suspended upon the said hooks.

Minor variations may be made in this invention without departure from the spirit and scope thereof and the drawings should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. Accordingly this invention should be limited only in accordance with a proper interpretation of the terminology in the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A folding drawbar for harrow sections comprising a frame having ground contacting wheels, an upstanding member on said frame and of a length substantially equal to the length of harrow sections to be used, hooks on the upper end of said member adapted to suspend said sections in vertical and inoperative position for transport thereof, said frame having attaching members whereon said sections may be hooked in operative position, and frame wings pivoted on vertical axes at the ends of said frame and foldable thereon, said frame wings having attaching members whereon harrow sections may be hooked in operative position, upright members on each of said frame wings, said frame wings being mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, and flexible links connecting upper portions of the last-mentioned upright members to the first-mentioned uprights.

2. A folding drawbar for harrow sections comprising a frame having ground contacting wheels, an upstanding member on said frame and of a length substantially equal to the length of harrow sections to be used, hooks on the upper end of said member adapted to suspend said sections in vertical and inoperative position for transport thereof, said frame having attaching members whereon said sections may be hooked in operative position, and frame wings pivoted on vertical axes at the ends of said frame and foldable thereon, said frame wings having attaching members whereon harrow sections may be hooked in operative position, said frame wings having hooks adapted to suspend harrow sections in vertical and inoperative position.

3. A folding drawbar for harrow sections comprising a frame having ground contacting wheels. an upstanding member on said frame and of a length substantially equal to the length of harrow sections to be used, hooks on the upper end of said member adapted to suspend said sections in vertical and inoperative position for transport thereof, said frame having attaching members whereon said sections may be hooked in operative position, and frame wings pivoted on vertical axes at the ends of said frame and foldable thereon, said frame wings having attaching members whereon harrow sections may be hooked in operative position, said frame wings being also mounted on the frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes, and flexible means connecting said frame wings with said frame to limit pivotal movement of said frame wings about said horizontal axes relative to said frame.

ARTHUR L. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 897,905 Kinkade Sept. 8, 1908 1,803,770 Rush May 5, 1931 1,927,458 Kilse Sept. 19, 1933 1,963,426 Taylor June 19, 1934 2,095,417 Wessersmith et al. Oct. 12, 1937 

